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Notre Dame Bay & Bonavista Bay Regions

1861 SCHOOL REPORTS

School Inspector's Remarks for the 1861 school year for some schools in Notre
Dame and Bonavista Bays as recorded in the 1862 Journal of the House of Assembly
of Newfoundland (2nd Session of the 8th General Assembly)

The information was transcribed by
LINDA ELKINS-SCHMITT. While I have endeavored to be as correct
as humanly possible, there may be typographical errors.

COMMUNITY

YR SCHOOL ESTABLISHED

TEACHER

SCHOOL INSPECTOR'S COMMENTS

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Shoe Cove, Notre Dame Bay

1859

Frederick FRICKER

This being a small School, distant about forty miles from the next to it, I did not attempt going there: a Letter was received from the Teacher by the Chairman while I was in his company, in which he stated that the people had not preformed all they promised to do at the establishment of the School, or rather at the engagement of a Teacher; they had built a School-room, but had not provided a house for himself, so, with the consent of the people, he had closed School and was occupied some months in building, and had at the date of the letter, a house, stage and flake well advanced. He was careful to add a request for his last two quarters' salary. The Chairman, it appears, expected too much from the people, in requiring them to build a Teacher's dwelling besides a school-room. The inhabitants had no right to excuses the Teacher from keeping School while he attended to his own private business; he was not engaged to them, but to the Board, and having been occupied on his own account, he had no right, during that time, to any salary. The proceedings were very irregular.

Teacher’s salary for 1861 was 40 pounds, and no fees were collected that past year. There were 16 boys and 14 girls attending school (11 under 7 yr, 11 between 7-12, and 8 over 12). 190 school days were recorded, and only reading was listed as being taught

Exploit’s Burnt Island

1835

Andrew PEARCE

July 3rd – The Master taking his holidays. On attendance list, at present, 38 of tender age, in June, 30; in March, 22; in December quarter, 16; and school kept only two days, the families having removed to the woods. In September the list has 41 names, but the attendance all through the year is very irregular. The school-room old and fast going to decay; some new steps at the entrance have been added since my first inspection. The Teacher’s salary has been increased from 35 pounds to 50 pounds, and the summer holidays reduced from four weeks to two. If a road were made along the north side of the harbor, some families could avail of the school that are now deprived of the advantage. The following is the school apparatus, (no Bibles) 8 Testaments, 6 worn out Spelling Books, (no Readers, no Copy Books,) 5 Slates. Plenty of sitting and desk accommodation.

Teacher’s salary for 1861 was 50 pounds, and 1 pound 10 in fees was collected that year.. There were 23 boys and 14 girls attending school, 13 under 7; 22 between 7-12; 2 over 12. 160 School days recorded. Reading, writing and Arithmetic were being taught.

Moreton’s Harbour

1842

John PIKE

The old hut where school had been kept having become totally unfit, the school was dismissed by consent of the Chairman, and the Teacher was occupying himself in fishing, though still under the engagement to the Board. No efforts seem to have been put forth, either by the people or the Board, to procure a school-room. The Board have plenty of funds, and building materials are growing convenient to the people.

Teacher’s salary 40 pounds.There were 15 boys, 12 girls attending school, 5 under 7; 13 between 7-12; 9 over 12. 130 school days reported. Reading, writing and Arithmetic were being taught. In an 1858 report the school was being held in a store belonging to Slade & Co.

Tizard’s Harbour

1842

G. O. EVERY

24 names on register, 17 present, all below 10 years, 7 children could read or spell moderately, and these represent all the learning of the school; no writing done; no Slates or Copy Books in the school. The school-room still unfinished – see daylight through the walls all round; no desk put up. This school reflects great discredit on all concerned in it….I am positive there might be a prosperous school of 50 pupils in regular attendance in this compact settlement.

Teacher G. O. EVERY, which in other reports in subsequent years was recorded as G V EVERY and George O AVERY. Salary 50 pounds. There were 10 boys and 14 girls; 13 under 7; 10 between 7-12; and 1 over 12. 229 school days reported. Only reading listed as being taught. Report for 1858, teacher T. J.EVERY, records that a school room is in course of erection

Twillingate

1847

John MOSS

19 Copy Books exhibited, containing fair specimens; 5 Cyphering books, 2 as far as Fellowship. George YATES, the best scholar, ciphers in Fellowship aged under 12. The School pretty well attended, but much retarded for want of School requisites and desk accommodation. No Bibles have ever been supplied to this School. There are 6 Testaments in pieces, furnished in 1852, being a gift from the Rev. J. BREWSTER. No pens or pencils have been supplied the last twelve months; a new stove wanted.

Salary 50 pounds. There were 58 boys and 26 girls, about half being under 7. 260 School days reported. Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography and Grammer were being taught.

Herring Neck, Salt Harbour

1854 & 1856

Andrew MILES & James PRIDE

17 present. The reading weak and monotonous. This School is not as well attended as it was 3 years ago, and confirms my opinion about teachers running themselves out of work in, small harbours, with all diligence on their part to keep up the School.

Two teachers listed for Herring Neck – Andrew MILES for Herring Neck East with 28 pupils and James PRIDE for Herring Neck West wit 24 pupils. The schools were established in 1854 and 1856 respectively. The 1858 report says that the Herring Neck East school was kept in a dwelling-house.

Change Islands

1856

John JANES

July 9th –Present 36; 10 in first class acquitted themselves admirably in reading, questions on the subject, in ciphering and writing from dictation. Several work the Rule of Three readily, and two are in Fellowship. The proportion of readers (a good test of an Elementary School) is unusually large, and no child is in the Alphabet. A most creditable school, well supplied with books. Master’s salary should be 50 pounds at least.

Salary was just over 40 pounds. 58 pupils registered, 30 boys and 28 girls, 230 school days recorded. Reading, writing and Arithmetic were being taught. The 1858 report says school was help in a cooper’s shop and that a School room was being built

Fogo

1857

Martin STONE

July 10th- The examination of the several classes was entirely satisfactory, and though many of the 1st class were absent, the character of the school was well sustained by those present. The answers to questions on subjects read proved much intelligence. The school is abundantly supplied with suitable books, and the whole establishment is in creditable order. I am glad to see that some patrons of improvement here have instituted a circulating library, of which the teacher is librarian. Such an auxiliary to education should be in every harbour.

Salary just over 69 pounds. There were 32 boys and 24 girls, and 265 school days were recorded. Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Geography were being taught.

Barr'd Island Harbour

1838/1858 ?

Isaac HAGGETT

School kept in the new schoolroom, not quite finished; but I was informed it would soon be attended to. Present 20. First class, 6, did well in reading, spelling, writing and ciphering as far as compound rules. 8 others read in easy lesson. Mr HAGGETT, though old and infirm, manages as well as many younger masters, being willing to do his best to advance his scholars.

year established in this document says 1838 but in reports from other years it says 1858. Salary just over 34 pounds. There were 28 boys and 18 girls in attendance during past year. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic were being taught. The 1858 report says school was help in a cooper’s shop; a School is nearly completed. The teacher is old and does not make use of his fishing vacation

Cat Harbour

1861

Moses DAVIS

Cat Harbour- This is a new station, school was kept here last winter, but was closed during the summer. The school-house is a beautiful building.

Salary less that 1 pound. There were 16 boys and 20 girls in attendance that year. 120 school days reported. Only reading was listed as being taught. Moses Davis was born in Hr Grace to Thomas Davis, and died 4 April 1912 in Newtown, Bonavista North, at the age of 83 ½ years.